Just made an easy $100+ bucks w/o even trying . . .
Jun 3, 2015 19:28:06 GMT
shin, hobbitlady, and 1 more like this
Post by copperkid3 on Jun 3, 2015 19:28:06 GMT
Yesterday had a fellow beek buddy come out to help work in the woodlot; have had him out several times in the past few weeks
and we have been taking out selected trees that needed removal - either weather broken, diseased or dead/dying. My saws have
been having problems, so the last couple times we have been using his, but he is also a fairly good fixer-upper of things mechanical
& apparently responded to previous 'suggestion' that he fix the broken screw supporing the anti-vibration bushing because he came
with the necessary tools and said: "Go bring it here!" Got him a power cord and we set up an imprompto work bench, by utilizing the
top of table saw, near one of my storage sheds, that has a large front overhang and under which, I've stored a large number of deep
and mid-sized supers; both empty and some with drawn frames. Within a few minutes, he announced: "You've got a swarm that's moved
into some of your boxes." I immediately countered with: "Nope.....just some robbers hanging around the place....been seeing them for the
last couple weeks." He hemmed and hawed a bit and wandered over to get a better look, before telling me: "Well....if they're robbers, what
are they doing bringing pollen into your equipment?!!!" Sure enough, I had to have a looksy too and then had to start swallowing a bit of crow....
as those earlier robbers must have later come back and set up a new home. As I've only recently purchased (3) three, 3# packages less than
a month ago, and they are still in their homes, I have to assume that these 'new' bees came from someplace else....nearby. Of course, while my
buddy is busy fixing my saw, I couldn't stand around doing nothing and began breaking down the stack of equipment to see just how far they'd
established themselves. Finally got them down to two deeps and a half super (which had a few missing frames - which were replaced) and then
also had to trim out some free comb that had been built. My buddy suggested that I take those pieces of free comb (which had some eggs and day old larvae)
and put them into an empty frame and then place it into a 5 frame nuc, remove the parent hive and place this nuc back in its' place as a good way to have
some queens for later use. Of course, we did this and being that it was a nice day, did all of it without benefit of a smoker, suit, or veil. Paid the price
in stings a few times as well....with a nice zinger delivered beneath the right eye....a bit puffy, and slightly sore & stiff, but both the bees and my face
seem to be doing quite nicely today. I'll be moving the 'parent' hive shortly about a 125 feet to the other side of my main shop building in the next couple
of days to join the others already there in my apiary. The nuc can be moved whenever....but will probably be letting another beek buddy know, as he
bought brood frames last week from another beekeeper and had 'hoped' they would raise their own queens.....we'll just have to wait and see.
I just love a "free-bee" swarm.....
BTW: My buddy fixed the saw too, but was paid for that.
We've cut and stacked more wood than I've ever done before!
Should have me set for at least a year and half....perhaps more.
Still have enough wood left to cut and get out to give me another year of heat.
My goal is to have enough to hold me for 4-5 yrs without having to do anymore cutting/hauling if I don't feel up to it.
and we have been taking out selected trees that needed removal - either weather broken, diseased or dead/dying. My saws have
been having problems, so the last couple times we have been using his, but he is also a fairly good fixer-upper of things mechanical
& apparently responded to previous 'suggestion' that he fix the broken screw supporing the anti-vibration bushing because he came
with the necessary tools and said: "Go bring it here!" Got him a power cord and we set up an imprompto work bench, by utilizing the
top of table saw, near one of my storage sheds, that has a large front overhang and under which, I've stored a large number of deep
and mid-sized supers; both empty and some with drawn frames. Within a few minutes, he announced: "You've got a swarm that's moved
into some of your boxes." I immediately countered with: "Nope.....just some robbers hanging around the place....been seeing them for the
last couple weeks." He hemmed and hawed a bit and wandered over to get a better look, before telling me: "Well....if they're robbers, what
are they doing bringing pollen into your equipment?!!!" Sure enough, I had to have a looksy too and then had to start swallowing a bit of crow....
as those earlier robbers must have later come back and set up a new home. As I've only recently purchased (3) three, 3# packages less than
a month ago, and they are still in their homes, I have to assume that these 'new' bees came from someplace else....nearby. Of course, while my
buddy is busy fixing my saw, I couldn't stand around doing nothing and began breaking down the stack of equipment to see just how far they'd
established themselves. Finally got them down to two deeps and a half super (which had a few missing frames - which were replaced) and then
also had to trim out some free comb that had been built. My buddy suggested that I take those pieces of free comb (which had some eggs and day old larvae)
and put them into an empty frame and then place it into a 5 frame nuc, remove the parent hive and place this nuc back in its' place as a good way to have
some queens for later use. Of course, we did this and being that it was a nice day, did all of it without benefit of a smoker, suit, or veil. Paid the price
in stings a few times as well....with a nice zinger delivered beneath the right eye....a bit puffy, and slightly sore & stiff, but both the bees and my face
seem to be doing quite nicely today. I'll be moving the 'parent' hive shortly about a 125 feet to the other side of my main shop building in the next couple
of days to join the others already there in my apiary. The nuc can be moved whenever....but will probably be letting another beek buddy know, as he
bought brood frames last week from another beekeeper and had 'hoped' they would raise their own queens.....we'll just have to wait and see.
I just love a "free-bee" swarm.....
BTW: My buddy fixed the saw too, but was paid for that.
We've cut and stacked more wood than I've ever done before!
Should have me set for at least a year and half....perhaps more.
Still have enough wood left to cut and get out to give me another year of heat.
My goal is to have enough to hold me for 4-5 yrs without having to do anymore cutting/hauling if I don't feel up to it.
